A non-profit based in Wasaga Beach could use a hand with sending supplies to northern Indigenous communities.
Emily Fudge started the Indigenous Kids Network of Canada (IKNC) in December 2019, and serves as executive director.
She was inspired to start IKNC after seeing communities first-hand while working for two years for the federal government.
“It’s very important because so many people don’t understand how people are living on reserves up north,” said Fudge. “These people are pretty much hidden from the rest of Canada. They get such a lower level of services across the board. It has huge social and health implications for the rest of their lives.”
“Everything is broken up there,” she said.
Fudge grew up in Wasaga Beach, attending Worsley Elementary School and Collingwood Collegiate Institute. She currently lives in Wasaga Beach, operating the national non-profit from home.
Fudge once worked for Jordan’s Principle, where she aided remote communities in accessing services and brought with her service providers such as audiologists, physicians, dentists or social workers.
Jordan's Principle is a program through the federal government that makes sure all First Nations children living in Canada can access products, services and supports they need, when they need them. Funding can help with a wide range of health, social and educational needs. The program is named in memory of Jordan River Anderson, a young boy from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba.
“When I was doing that job, I saw a lot of barriers. I knew this could help so many other people. I didn’t think many people were even aware of Jordan’s Principle,” said Fudge.
This realization led to Fudge starting the non-profit. Indigenous Kids Network of Canada helps children and youth in Indigenous communities apply for Jordan’s Principle.
“Oftentimes, living on the reserve, all those kids get less,” said Fudge. “It’s really about closing (service) gaps. What we do at the organization is we will help with applications and walk through it step by step.”
Since starting up, IKNC has helped 94 children get approved for about $480,000 worth of services and supports under Jordan's Principle.
Last fall, IKNC received a grant from the Red Cross to deliver educational and at-home activities to kids that have been affected by the pandemic.
“Many of the communities we serve are fly-in and only have access to one or two small general stores. When their kids are stuck at home during the lockdowns, families have no educational resources or activities to keep their kids busy,” said Fudge.
Fudge is currently collecting financial donations, donations of food, diapers, personal hygiene products, clothing as well as donations of activities such as workbooks, puzzles, colouring books, markers, stickers, craft kids or LEGO.
“We are also in need of the flat rate boxes from Canada Post, size large and medium to ship much-needed supplies to children,” said Fudge.
For more information or to arrange a donation, contact Fudge at [email protected].
